Experience

I am available for webinars and training in trauma informed care, addiction, adolescent, and family work and other topics, including attachment, parenting, and understanding behaviour as language. I have worked most recently with the Regional Municipality of York and the Canadian Institute For Advanced Research (CIFAR ). I am an experienced group facilitator in psychoeducation for adolescents and adults.

My clinical experience includes being a Team Therapist and the Director of Family and Aftercare programming at the Pine River Institute, a residential treatment facility for adolescents aged 14-20 suffering from addictive behaviours and mental illness from 2017-2023.

I was an adjunct faculty professor at the Adler Graduate Professional School, co-teaching their Graduate Trauma Certificate to Masters of Psychology students from 2016-2022.

I am studying for my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, anticipated completion August 2025.

I have personal experience in the world of adoption and have counselled biological parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees on their journey through this process.

I am proud to have an LGBTQ-friendly practice and am committed to serving this community with integrity and professionalism.

I respect, appreciate and have basic training in indigenous ways of knowing and counselling and am committed to de-colonizing myself and my practice .

I have taken several trainings on counselling culturally diverse clients and have an ongoing commitment to my unlearning.

I currently operate a small private practice remotely and in Toronto seeing adults, adolescents and families.

I am part of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and am attached to the indigenous, addiction and family sections within that organisation.

Qualifications

I have completed training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

My Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) advanced training was with Waypoint in Midland and I have run several DBT groups over the years.

My training in Polyvagal theory was with Deb Dana in Ottawa, and Toronto.

I use Satir family therapy and Sue Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) attachment based work for couples and families.

I have created a group curriculum on addictive behaviours for adults and adolescents and am authoring a graphic book about shame.

Training Highlights….

Two-Eyed Seeing and Indigenous Approaches to Trauma
Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation: A Polyvagal Theory Guided Approach to Therapy
Attachment-Based Yoga & Meditation for Trauma Recovery
Externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Post Graduate certificate in School, Social, Emotional and Psychological Assessment
Post Graduate certificate in Trauma Psychotherapy.

I am a Registered Psychotherapist in autonomous practice with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). I am able to supervise RP’s and qualifying RP’s gaining their direct client clinical hours for autonomous practice

I appreciate the importance of the right fit between therapist and client. With that in mind, I offer a free, 15 minute initial consultation to enable you to make an informed decision about beginning therapy.

Testimonials

Dear Sarah,

I want to thank you so very much for helping me through a very difficult time. With wisdom, compassion and your wonderful sense of humour, you have helped me understand the complexity of our family dynamics. You have helped open my eyes and helped me see things with a fresh perspective. I have learned so much about myself and, more importantly, I am learning to understand that sometimes we simply have to let matters run their natural course.
I have thoroughly enjoyed our sessions together, and won’t hesitate to reach out to you in the future if I feel the need.
Many thanks Sarah. You are a gem.
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Dear Sarah,
Thank you so very much for your support of our family. Your kind, non-judgmental impactful and generous support and guidance have made such a positive difference to our family. Thank you for gently encouraging us to be not only better parents, but better people.
We are deeply grateful for all that you have done
*******
Dear Sarah,
We want to thank you for your outstanding and helpful support. We have learned so much from you. We know we still have more work ahead, but thanks to you we are much better prepared. It has been a transforming experience.
*******

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